Wallpaper is probably the most decorative covering for nursery walls and the
choice is endless. However, before you choose cute teddies or bunnies, bear in mind that
both you and your baby may soon tire of them, and before you know it you’ll be
re-papering with Thomas the Tank Engine! To add colour or design to painted walls more
cheaply and with more flexibility, use a wallpaper border -later this can be removed or
another one glued over the top to update the room.
Paint Cheaper, and just as cheerful as wallpaper, is a fresh coat of paint. If
you’re painting the nursery before the baby is born, leave several days for any oil-based
paints to dry and to thoroughly ventilate the room. Paints and varnishes should always be
non-toxic. Lead levels in paints are now controlled by law so avoid using old paints and
varnishes.
You need to be particularly careful if you are removing very old paint that may be lead
based. Babies and young children are particularly vunerable to the health problems caused
by breathing in fumes or swallowing dust containing lead or small chips of paint. To
reduce the amount of dust, Dulux recommends lightly rubbing the surfaces down while wet,
using waterproof sandpaper, and removing any debris with a damp rag. Repaint using primer,
undercoat and gloss, and ensure that new surfaces are kept in good condition.
Stencilling is a simple DIY way of adding colour and interest to walls and
furniture. You can buy nursery designs from specialist mail order companies as well as
from most department stores and DIY shops. Use stencil paint or watered-down emulsion
paint with a stubby stencil brush. It’s a good idea to do a few experimental stencils
first before starting on the main walls or furniture! Using stencils on walls and
furniture can help to create a co-ordinated look for the nursery.
Transfers Colour and interest can be added quickly to walls with transfers which
may feature nursery or cartoon characters or more educational numbers or alphabet motifs.
Window decoration for the nursery can be as bright and cheerful as your taste
dictates. Many companies produce matching curtains and bedding as well as other
accessories and these are a simple and flexible way of customising the room to match your
child’s tastes.
It is a good idea to use blackout lining in curtains so that your baby’s daytime
naps can be in a darkened room and he is less likely to wake with the dawn every morning.
A cheaper alternative is a blackout roller blind.
